THE ESSENCE OF DIVINE LOVE
📖…he that hath seen me hath seen the Father… (John 14:9
People have used the word “love” for generations without capturing or understanding the true essence of its meaning. Even the Greek word “agape,” which is one of the translations of the word love, was known before Christ came. Yet, human definitions never captured the essence of divine love.
The Lord Jesus gave meaning to love. When you saw Him, you saw Love in action. He’s the manifestation of God’s love. The Bible says, “…God is love” (1 John 4:8). Love was tabernacled in human flesh in Jesus Christ. When He preached in the temple, as Luke 4:16-21 tells us, it was God’s love in action.
He read from the scroll of Isaiah and declared, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears,” revealing His mission to bring salvation, healing, and love into the world. Then he acted it. He healed the sick, opened blind eyes, fed the multitude, and raised the dead. That was God’s love on display.
Matthew 14:14 says, “And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.” His compassion drove Him to heal the sick, showing that love and mercy were at the very heart of His ministry. Even when He drove out the money changers from the temple (read John 2:13-17), that act wasn’t anger but righteous love. His zeal was rooted in love for His Father’s house. When He rebuked Herod as a fox in Luke 13:32, it was a bold expression of truth and love. He was calling out wickedness with righteous authority.
Finally, His lamentation over Jerusalem in Matthew 23:37 shows His deep love and longing for the salvation of His people, “O Jerusalem… how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” These acts and words reveal that the life of the Master was a perfect manifestation of divine love.
Love is not defined by human sentiment, emotion, weakness, or permissiveness. Love is the person of Jesus Christ revealed to us. He was fully God and fully man. The more you know Him through the Word and by the Spirit, the clearer your understanding of love. And as you walk in His nature, you become the manifestation of God’s love to your world.
PRAYER
Dear Father, thank you for sending Jesus as the full expression of your unfailing love. His life in me is the life of love. I walk in the light of His Word and express His character; through me, many experience your love, compassion, grace, and transforming power, in Jesus’ name
Name. Amen.
If you’re blessed by this devotional, believing every word you heard by faith in your heart, and would love to make Jesus the lord of your life, then speak the confessions below out loud, and mean them with your heart:
“O Lord God, I believe with all my heart in Jesus Christ, Son of the living God. I believe He died for me and God raised Him from the dead. I believe He’s alive today. I confess with my mouth that Jesus Christ is the Lord of my life from this day. Through Him and in His Name, I have eternal life; I’m born again. Thank you Lord, for saving my soul! I’m now a child of God. Hallelujah!”
If you just prayed the prayer of salvation, we have a gift for you. First, kindly click this link so we can connect with you and help you grow in Christ.
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Message by Rev. Chris Oyakhilome Dsc. Dsc. DD.
📚FURTHER STUDY: 1 John 4:9; John 13:34: John 15:12-13
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Luke 17:1-19 & 1 Samuel3-7
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Romans 12:1-8 & Psalm 119:145-160
